Man arrested for running over officer

September 19, 2009 9:58:44 AM PDT

ZEBULON --

Police have arrested the man who allegedly ran over an officer trainee trying to stop a crime Friday morning.It all began when the Zebulon Police Department got a call about a group of people in a Blue Ford Ranger pickup who allegedly stole from a Scotchman convenience store located at 503 W. Gannon Avenue.

Officers say they found the truck at the Swift Mart at Hwy 97 and Lizard Lick Road just before 2 a.m. Sgt. Tivon Howard and his trainee Officer C. Brandon Atwood walked up to it to start asking questions.

The driver of the pickup - 32-year-old Jason Earl Anthony of Wake Forest - allegedly threw the vehicle into gear and started driving away.

Atwood was trapped between the passenger door and the frame of the truck and was dragged. He was able to draw his pistol and get off a shot, but no-one was hit. He eventually fell off, and the truck went over his leg - breaking it.

A short time later, a NC Highway Patrol officer spotted the pickup on Hwy 96 near Jack Mitchell Rd. After a short chase, the driver wrecked in a ditch on Ferrell Road - just east of Hwy 96.

He was later arrested late Friday night in Greenville County, SC after he was suspected of committing a car jacking in the area. Authorities then discovered that Anthony was wanted in Zebulon. Anthony is being held without bond.

Zebulon Investigators are going to extradite Anthony back to NC to face the charges of attempted murder on a police officer, larceny, resist-delay and obstruct, and various traffic related offenses.